DEMANDS by Alex Salmond for the Scottish Parliament to be handed “neverendem“ powers to re-run the independence vote have been dismissed as an attempt to stoke up grievance against new devolution powers.

Calls for Holyrood to be given control over any future referendum on independence have been tabled as an SNP amendment to the Scotland Bill as it goes before Westminster for the last time today.

But the demands for ­constitutional powers and additional SNP ­amendments for the devolution of tax credits and employment law, were not in the Smith Commission recommendations all parties signed up to after the Yes vote.

Pete Wishart MP, the SNP leader of the House, said the attempt stemmed from talk in Scotland of a second referendum.

He said: “It’s in response to all the conversations going on about a second referendum, how that could be triggered and who has ­responsibility.

“This is a power that should rest with the Scottish people and if they decided the moment and the ­conditions were right, that would be a matter for Scotland and the elected representatives of the ­Scottish people, not Westminster.

“That call should be made by Scotland.”

SNP MP Pete Wishart

The proposed changes are in addition to more than 80 ­government amendments tabled to the bill to strengthen the powers of the ­Scottish Parliament over tax and welfare.

Opponents yesterday accused the SNP of trying to distract from the party’s refusal to commit to the new Smith powers on welfare to offset the cuts in tax credits for working families.

Professor Adam Tomkins, a Conservative member of the all-party Smith Commission who drew up more powers, said the SNP knew they were making demands beyond what they signed up to last year.

He said: “The Smith Commission rejected transferring competence over referendums to the Scottish Parliament because it is a question for the UK as a whole. Of course it is up to the Scottish people to decide whether to stay or go but the ­decision affects the whole UK so the question of timing and, dare I say it, frequency is for the UK as a whole.”

Scottish Secretary David Mundell

Scottish Secretary David Mundell – who presents the bill to the Commons today – said Holyrood stands on the cusp of becoming one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.

He said: “The bill allows the SNP top to top-up tax credits, top-up child benefit or even create brand new benefits in devolved areas.

“The vote in the Commons will mean the Scottish Government have run out of excuses for not telling Scotland what their benefits plans are. People now want to know how much this is all going to cost and how it will be paid for.”

But the Scottish Government accused Mundell of “sheer ­hypocrisy” in demanding Holyrood offset tax credits, while ignoring the fact his Government plan to slash them.

A spokesman for the First Minister warned that the SNP majority at Holyrood could still veto the powers if they disagreed with the funding package still being worked on.

Alex Salmond (Image: Contributed/Rutherglen Reformer)

The official said: “The Scotland Bill is far from perfect, giving ­Scotland responsibility for just 14 per cent of welfare spending.

“The final vote will depend on the outcome of negotiations between the Scottish Government and the Treasury on the funding framework that comes with it.” Labour and the Lib Dems also lined up to attack the SNP amendment that would transfer power over a referendum to ­Holyrood.

Ian Murray MP, Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary said it was time for the SNP to start focusing on the powers being delivered in the ­Scotland Bill.

The Edinburgh MP claimed it was pressure from his party that meant new welfare powers were included and said the Vow on more powers has been delivered in full.

He said: The Scotland Bill meets in full the promises made to people across Scotland in the Vow before the referendum. In fact, it goes beyond what was promised.

“The challenge now is to the SNP Government to tell us how they are going to use these powers.

“As a first step, Nicola Sturgeon should be telling people across ­Scotland how she will use the powers to restore the money lost from tax credit cuts.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “The SNP have a one-track mind. Nicola Sturgeon tells us in public she respects the result of the last referendum but her representatives in Westminster are quietly plotting to disrespect the result.”